By Zach Travis

Detroit Free Press Special Writer

Zach Travis is a manager of the Wolverines blog Maize n Brew. His opinions do not necessarily reflect those of the Detroit Free Press nor its writers. Read his column every week here and contact him anytime at zwtravis@gmail.com.

As the coaching staff continues its hot pursuit of Michigan’s 2014 class, it is hard to believe the last class of signees came on board less than six months ago and still have yet to step into the Big House as Wolverines. The accelerated pace of recruiting has that kind of effect, wherein the last class becomes an afterthought nearly as soon as the ink is dry on the players’ letters of intent.

But the 2013 class will soon make itself known once again, as Michigan will no doubt turn to a number of freshmen for early contributions. Here are five first-year Wolverines that could make an impact this fall.

1. Safety Dymonte Thomas: Before Jabrill Peppers was setting our hearts afire, Thomas was the biggest big-time secondary recruit that Brady Hoke & Co. had brought to campus. The four-star prospect out of Ohio committed to U-M early and never wavered, even as Ohio State made a strong push.

He enrolled early and quickly found his way onto the field in the spring game as a nickle corner — conspicuously in front of last year’s nickle corner, Courtney Avery. Thomas brings a lot more size and athleticism to the position and can open up a number of intriguing possibilities for the defensive staff. He is a capable blitzer and can get out in coverage, and against spread teams he will play a hybrid role between linebacker and safety than what U-M normally gets from its smaller nickle corners. He is as near a lock to see significant playing time on defense as any other 2013 recruit.

2. Defensive end Taco Charlton: The Wolverines have lacked one thing defensively under Greg Mattison: a consistent pass rush from the outside. U-M has yet to find a dynamic pass rusher at the defensive end spot, and while Frank Clark may emerge in that role, early enrollee Taco Charlton could also push for significant playing time.

The 6-foot-6, 265-pound freshman turned heads on the camp circuit as a high school senior with his athleticism and long frame. He already has the college-ready size, and a dangerous speed rush. His performance in the spring game also flashed some potential, as he got after the quarterback a couple times. The biggest question mark surrounding Charlton is his technique. Freshmen don’t often step into significant roles on the defensive line because technique at the point of attack makes all the difference in leverage. If Charlton can’t handle run-stopping responsibilities, he could become a liability. If he can, he has the athletic ability to make life miserable for opposing quarterbacks for a long time. Given depth issues at the weakside defensive end spot, he will most likely be pressed into service.

3. Tight end Jake Butt: Last year Devin Funchess exploded onto the scene, making some great catches and flashing a skill set at tight end that U-M hadn’t seen in years. While Butt won’t be quite the weapon in the passing game, he should have a chance to step onto campus and compete for significant playing time. U-M has a dearth of quality options at tight end, with Funchess and fellow sophomore A.J. Williams the only two scholarship tight ends with any experience.

Butt is more of a complete package at tight end, but he is still just 231 pounds and will need time to develop into a reliable blocker. That shouldn’t stop him from stepping in early and making a few plays in the passing game. With so few options at tight end and so little experience at wide receiver, U-M will need all the help it can get for Devin Gardner.

Green, a five-star prospect out of Virginia, made waves when he chose U-M over a host of other top programs last January. He will bring the kind of size (6-0, 220 pounds) and thumping, between-the-tackles style that U-M will want to rely on. He was a top 10 prospect to Rivals.com and should be a factor in the run game from day one. If he lives up to his five-star billing, he could be a big part of the Wolverines’ offensive success in 2013.

5. Wide receiver Da’Mario Jones: He is a bit of a sleeper pick, but he has a very real chance to contribute early. Consider that U-M is already stretched thin at receiver, much less the slot where only Drew Dileo stands as a factor on the depth chart. One of U-M’s three incoming freshmen will most likely need to play, and Jones would be a natural choice given his position.

The one-time Central Michigan commit flipped to the Wolverines in October and has a reputation for being a speedy playmaker. Michigan will require some of that in three- and four-wide receiver sets, and Jones could be the most likely receiver to get early playing time on offense.